RDL MCP Server — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Reads and updates SSRS report files using structured tool calls instead of raw XML edits.
claude mcp add --env RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL> --env RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE=<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE> --transport stdio rdl-mcp-server -- uvx rdl-mcpWhat RDL MCP Server does
Editing RDL files by hand usually means scrolling through thousands of lines of XML. This server provides clean inspection tools that return JSON for report parameters, column schemas, and dataset fields.
On the editing side, the assistant can update column widths, rename headers, append totals to footers, and swap stored procedures. An XML validation command runs after updates to catch broken markup early.
Execution depends on Python 3.8+ and uvx. At the moment, the tool works only with Tablix tables: chart components and matrix layouts remain unsupported.
What it helps with
- inspect datasets, parameters, and columns inside
.rdlfiles - adjust column widths and header text without touching XML tags
- update stored procedure names attached to report datasets
- append new fields and calculate sums in table footers
Example prompts for the agent
- Show me the datasets and parameters defined in
report.rdl. - Set the width of the
Account Numbercolumn to 2 inches inreport.rdl. - Add a
TaxAmountcolumn tosales.rdlwith a sum in the footer.
How to install RDL MCP Server
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL> --env RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE=<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE> --transport stdio rdl-mcp-server -- uvx rdl-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from rdl-mcp <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add rdl-mcp-server --env RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL> --env RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE=<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE> -- uvx rdl-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from rdl-mcp <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"rdl-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"rdl-mcp"
],
"env": {
"RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL>",
"RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE": "<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from rdl-mcp <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"rdl-mcp-server": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"rdl-mcp"
],
"env": {
"RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL>",
"RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE": "<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from rdl-mcp <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL=<RDL_MCP_LOG_LEVEL> -e RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE=<RDL_MCP_LOG_FILE> rdl-mcp-server uvx rdl-mcpReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from rdl-mcp <command>
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about RDL MCP Server
How to install RDL MCP Server in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add rdl-mcp -- uvx rdl-mcp in your terminal. You need Python 3.8 or newer and uv installed on your machine.
What does RDL MCP Server do?
It allows AI assistants to read and modify Microsoft SSRS report files through specific tool calls rather than brittle text replacements.
Does it support all SSRS controls?
No. It currently modifies only standard Tablix table elements; matrix grids and charts require manual XML adjustments.
